Compare towns
Stark vs Dalton vs Benton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Benton has the most expensive homes ($288k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Stark | Dalton | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419 |
916Highest |
386Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6 36% above NH |
44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average |
62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH |
| Benton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dalton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Benton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
20.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dalton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,750±$23k 28% below NH |
$81,429±$36kHighest 18% below NH |
$67,895±$4kLowest 31% below NH |
| Dalton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,700±$34k 51% below NH |
$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
$288,300±$46kHighest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $900±$825 40% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
$3,561Highest 47% below NH |
$2,922 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±83.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Benton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stark and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stark School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.